A heated capillary micro-nozzle is installed on the deposition stage of a focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) system, along with the test chip used for electrical characterization of deposits for graphene interconnects. (Source: Rob Felt, Georgia Tech)

Exciting new technology with wide open possibilities. In addition to nano sensing and nano electronics applications, this could also produce big advances in nano machinery fabrication. I am especially intrigued by the ability to use different materials with this process. It will be interesting to follow the commercialization of this technology.

I agree with Greg. Nanotechnology more and more is becoming the foundation for a lot of innovation these days and to add the possibllity of 3D fabricating these materials leaves it open for even more potential. Good story, Ann.

The possibilites are exciting. You have large scale 3D printing building interior structures that could not otherwise be made. Add to that the possibility of nanoscale 3D printing, and you begin to imagine the things printed into the housing of larger parts. Machines within machines if you would. Pretty cool stuff!

Jack B, interesting that you mentioned the various scales of 3D printing methods, and enfolding things printed with one scale into things printed with another. We covered a related idea about printed 3D electronics enfolded within 3D printed objects, like electronics integrated into an airplane wing:http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1392&doc_id=265097

Incredible! The potential for medical benefits alone are astounding. Imagine being able to construct customized nano-bots that could repair certain tissue damage of internal organs. The possibilities are indeed endless.

Thanks for that comment, Jack B, I hadn't connected the two together. I bet the printer manufacturers haven't thought of that yet either. OTOH, we did an article on combining 3D printing with printed 3D electronics here http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1392&doc_id=265097

A few weeks ago, Ford Motor Co. quietly announced that it was rolling out a new wrinkle to the powerful safety feature called stability control, adding even more lifesaving potential to a technology that has already been very successful.

It won't be too much longer and hardware design, as we used to know it, will be remembered alongside the slide rule and the Karnaugh map. You will need to move beyond those familiar bits and bytes into the new world of software centric design.

People who want to take advantage of solar energy in their homes no longer need to install a bolt-on solar-panel system atop their houses -- they can integrate solar-energy-harvesting shingles directing into an existing or new roof instead.

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